Sun Peaks Resort Blog

Over the past week we’ve seen families from all over the world and people of all ages take part in a variety of fun activities and friendly competitions!

The celebrations got off to a great start on Sunday at the 4th Annual Sun Peaks Kookaburra Cup! The cross country loppet has continued to grow over the past couple of years and this year we not only saw a record number of participants but also two additional longer courses for the more advanced Nordic skiers. So if all goes according to plan with my Nordic skiing New Year’s resolution I’ll definitely be competing next year! To view the full results from the Kookaburra Cup click here.

Yesterday it was all about the kids as they battled it out at the obstacle course! It was a female dominated affair as girls from Canada, Australia and New Zealand climbed, ducked, jumped and skied their way around the course alongside the only male competitor – Barney the Kangaroo! Barney did put up a good fight but the girls were too good and in the end the Canadians took home the gold medal! So now the question remains can Australia, last year’s winning country keep hold of the coveted Family Cup trophy or will the Canadian’s have a home snow advantage?!

If you’re planning on representing your family and country at the signature race on Saturday then there’s still time for some last minute practice! The final gates training session will take place between 11am and 1pm tomorrow and don’t forget Friday Race Serieskicks off this week so that gives you another chance to practice your turns!

If racing isn’t your thing then head to one of parties that we have happening over the next few days! Today is the skating party, tomorrow is the welcome reception party and Monday is the tubing party – the final event of this year’s Family Cup celebrations! A full program of events can be foundhere.

Good luck to everyone who is competing on Saturday! Enjoy the family fun and may the best country win!

The past few weeks of 2012 not only saw a number of incredible powder days but also some great events both on and off the slopes! The personal highlight for me, other than experiencing my first ever white Christmas was seeing the village come to life for Santa’s Alpine Visit! I also had an amazing New Year’s Eve and there’s no denying that the year definitely ended with a bang at the celebrations on Monday night. It was an epic sendoff to 2012 and those that made it down to the village were not disappointed by the tricks thrown down at the First Flight Big Air Invitational, Dan Oig singing live on stage, the fantastic fireworks and of course the torchlight parade! It must have been a big night for many of you as the slopes were suspiciously quiet on New Year’s morning!

As we enter another year, I thought it would be appropriate to make some ski season specific New Year’s resolutions. On top of just improving my skiing on more difficult terrain I’ve also decided I’d like to pick up a new winter sport – I’ve tried snowboarding before (without success!) and so I’ve decided to give Nordic Skiing a go! I’ve heard so much about it, particularly since being at Sun Peaks and since it’s meant to be great exercise I’ve really got nothing to lose! I’ve booked myself in for the Introduction to Nordic Skiing program and I’ll be sure to let you all know how I get on!

2013 is already looking great; we’ve had some beautiful sunny days and yesterday the 7th Annual Sun Peaks Family Cup got underway! Over the next two weeks there are a number of family activities, events and competitions going on with the signature race taking place on Saturday, January 12th. Make sure you check out the schedule of events for more details.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all have a fun and fulfilling 2013 with lots of free time to hit the slopes and of course plenty of powder days, first lifts and fresh tracks!

Calling all skiing and boarding enthusiasts! If the thought of cruising down the slopes at night with just a handful of other people sounds pretty cool to you then I would suggest attending a fondue dinner and evening descent! I guess it goes without saying but cheese and chocolate lovers you’re in for a treat with this one too!

Last week was the first event for the season and I was fortunate enough to take part. After we met our guides we headed up the Sunburst Chair which opens especially for the occasion. It was a pretty unique experience being on a chairlift in the dark and after I shook the thought of getting stuck up there like in the movie ‘Frozen’ I was able to appreciate the serenity of the mountains at night!

When we arrived at the Sunburst Restaurant we were offered a selection of meat, bread and vegetables and a delicious cheese fondue and mushroom broth to dip it all in! As if that wasn’t enough, we were then treated to chocolate fondue and fresh fruit and marshmallows to accompany it! Communal dining tables meant we were able to chat with other guests from all over the world and live music set the tone for what was a wonderful dining experience.

We all left the restaurant feeling satisfyingly full and eager to hit the slopes for our descent back to the village! As we made our way down one by one, all you could hear was the sound of your own skis carving the freshly groomed run. I feel pretty confident saying that even the biggest powder hounds will be able to appreciate a groomed 5 Mile at night! For more information on this incredible winter activity click here!

Sun Peaks offers so much more than just fantastic skiing and snowboarding and so I’ve decided that this season I want to experience as many winter activitiesas possible - first on the hit list, a snowshoeing tour!

There’s a variety of different tours available but I opted for the Moonlight Snowshoe and S’mores Tour, partly because I wanted to explore the mountains at night but also because I was tempted to try a s’more which I’ve heard so much about!

After meeting our very friendly tour guide Rob and getting fitted with our snowshoes we set off in the direction of Mount Morrisey. It was a great night to take the tour, we’d had 18cm of fresh snow in the past 24 hours and the sky was so clear we could spot Orion’s Belt and The Big Dipper. We began our journey on a groomed Nordic trail but even when we ventured off track I was surprised by how easy it was to walk in thigh deep powder!

Upon arrival at the camp we were warmed up by a campfire and bottomless hot apple cider! While we toasted our marshmallows and enjoyed the yummy s’mores, Rob read us ‘The Cremation of Sam McGee’ by Robert W Service and told us a little about the history of snowshoeing. There was a real sense of being completely on our own on the mountain and it was a magical experience!

The descent back to the village was the highlight for me, not only did we get an incredible view of the glistening village below but we could see the snow cats working their magic across the front slopes of Sundance.

Snowshoeing is a great way to explore the mountains and see them in a completely different way! Next time I’m going to join the Alpine tour for a daylight expedition on Mount Tod! For more information on snowshoeing rental and the different tours available click here.

Despite the dumping snow, Santa managed to find his way to our village on Saturday for his annual alpine visit and for the first of his many appearances at Sun Peaks this year!

As well as getting their photo taken with Santa, visitors were able to sample food at local restaurants, meet some of the Huskies fromMountain Man Adventure Dogsledding toursand shop at the various market stalls that were set up especially for the day! Kids were also treated to a number of activities such as ornament decorating, snowman making and Christmas storytelling. With plenty of snow falling and everyone’s favourite Christmas carols playing the village really came to life and turned into a magical winter wonderland. It was definitely a fabulous way to end what was an awesome day on the slopes!

If you missed Santa's visit, dont worry there's still plenty of opportunities to meet him, have your photo taken or get your Christmas wish list in! This Saturday, December 22nd head to the ice rink to skate with Santa or on Sunday hit the slopes and ski with Santa as he cruises down 5 Mile! Alternatively, share a pancake breakfast with the man himself at Masa's Bar + Grill on Monday the 24th before he sets of on his annual expedition!

It’s been a long held desire of mine to have my own dog one day so I was so thrilled to be able to join a Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures tour last week. Every time I heard the kennel when I was riding on Orient Ridge I was hit with a pang of jealously of whoever was setting off behind a team.

Recently taken over by new owners, Chris and Taryn, these Sun Peaks mushers have a had a great first season. They have about 50 mixed Alaskan Huskies, some of which they inherited from the previous owners and others have come to them through different channels. While this seemed like a huge amount of dogs to me, I was assured Chris has looked after much larger kennels.

Bred for purpose, these dogs all looked like individuals and showed great personalities. The dogs were overjoyed to have you come and say hello.

During the first part of tour we walked around, meeting different dogs while asking questions about the operation. Taryn explained the experience could be as hands-on as I wanted. As soon as it became clear we were heading out on a tour the energy level in the kennel went up about four notches. Every dog perked up and wanted to be chosen to run.

Getting harnessed

Being led to the sled

Stoked!

Ready to go

As we led dogs to be harnessed, I couldn’t believe how beyond-excited they were! Lunging forward, it took a bit of strength to hold them. Their energy was contagious and I couldn't wait to get on the trail either.

I was up to drive the team first and after a brief rundown the sled was in my hands. I yelled, “Ready, Go!” and eased off the brake. As soon as the dogs felt the pressure ease they were off.

The first thing I noticed was the silence. The barking ceased as they lunged forward, putting their energy toward the trail. The second thing I noticed was how incredibly smooth the ride was. Standing on the back of the sled felt surprising natural and as we headed swiftly towards the narrow trail my confidence grew. I realized why this was such a popular method of transportation in the north.

The snowy woods surrounded us on all sides, and over 10cm of fresh, gorgeous snow had fallen over night. The rest of the world seemed to melt away as we headed farther a long the trail.

Skating or running a bit to help the team on hills, we made it to our first break. The dogs looked elated and basked in the praise and treats they were given. Our team leaders were Kootenay and Skunky. I had fallen for Kootenay right away, with his more traditional husky face and calmer demeanor. Six dogs made up the team and other 6 on the sled ahead of us. Brand new, this sled has space for one passenger, one driver and a guide driver and is a great new addition to the tours.

Foxy and Shredder

This guy might love snow more than I do

A younger dog learns to be a confident lead from the veteran with 1,000km racing experience

When they team sensed they were close to home they found more energy and sped up. A bit of downhill and six dogs in front of you is all you need to feel like you are getting some real speed! From my comfy seat in the sled we emerged from the trees and headed back in the direction of Tod Mountain.

Homeward Bound

During my time with Chirs, Tayrn and their dogs I got sense of how much passion, patience and work goes into their operation. These dogs may be a bit different then your average pet but they are just as loved. It’s definitely a full time job. Looking towards the future they plan to expand their breeding program also the trail system at Sun Peaks. A brief glance at their Facebook page shows you how memorable these tours are for all their guests. Thanks so much to Mountain Man adventures for sharing this unique experience with me and I can’t wait to come visit again!

March has roared in like a lion here at Sun Peaks. The last two days of February dropped 25cm on us with an additional 64cm in the first week of March. Everyone has been out slashing pow and tearing round in the trees. I love how great snow makes everyone (feel like) better riders! There is nothing like some freshies under your feet to generate some courage.

It’s been a stellar season. We are only 7cm away from surpassing our annual average snowfall of 559cm and we still have four weeks of winter operations left. With nothing but flurries in the forecast we will exceed that in no time at all and my instincts tell me we still have a few epic pow days before spring hits. If you have photos or videos from the last couple weeks be sure to share it on our Facebook page so we can all relish in the snow stoke. You can also enter your photos in the JAY-peg Photo Contest to win great prizes, including the snowboard hanging in Cafe Soleil.

If you are on your way here for spring break you're sure to have some great conditions for your holiday. There is also a ton of live music in the village this month as its March Music Madness so your après can be almost as entertaining as your time on the mountain. Make sure to take advantage of our package deals if you are headed our way!

Spring slush fun is in the future but for now everyone should get out there play in the powder. You don’t too many more days to rack up the numbers on your pass!